Timely Highway Trust Fund Reauthorization Gains An Ally

Joining in House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman James Oberstar's efforts to bring a six year reauthorization of the federal highway trust fund to the house floor before the current law expires September 30, House Ways and Means Select Revenue Measures Subcommittee Chairman Richard Neal supports a $3 billion temporary cash infusion to tide the fund over the Congressional August recess and keep everyone's feet to the fire for a long term solution to shrinking revenues for public transit, highway, passenger rail and water transportation infrastructure funding. With the Senate and the Obama administration favoring an eighteen month extension and postponement of revenue issues until after next years House elections, the battle lines appear to be hardening. House Ways and Means Committee member Earl Blumenauer described the process as a five way dance among the Department of Transportation, and authorizers and appropriators in both houses of Congress.